Marty, James' wife...James has been reading and printing most of the e-mail
that comes to us here in Canada but now I have taken over the load for him
as his mom had a stroke just lately. I just wanted to say how much we enjoy
reading your messages and find them quite comforting. We just requested a
second opinion from Vancouver, BC and it is pretty much the same. Brief
synopsis.. presented with a malignant pleural effusion (tested positive for
moderate to well defined adenocarcinoma). All med people thought for sure
primary was ovarian. Drained over 2000 cc from chest tho drain plugged and
left a small amount(not sure what that is in US) All tests to date
mammogram, ultrasound, cat scans, laproscope, D & C were negative. CA 125
marker was originally 110 but is is now down to 27 (normal is under 35).
The latest oncologist is convinced that the pleural effusion is masking a
small tumor. Basically, they are waiting for me to develop further symptoms
and say that any treatment offered would be strictly palliative. The
lastest oncologist say they would offer chemo (she is a medical oncologist,
I suspect if she was a radiation oncologist, she would have offered
radiaton). I refused as I am asymptomatic and they will follow up in 3
months time. We really got the feeling that to the oncologist we are the
nail and they the hammer. We did mention that I am on megavitamin therapy
and take Essaic as this is body fuel and might effect any conventional
treatment offered. I also visit an acupuncturist weekly and we discuss the
effect of positive and (spiritual) attitude. The Cancer centers here offer
free counselling (but you have to ask) and thereuptic touch). I go to a
sister (RC) who is also a Reiki master and have hands on blessings at our
church. I do imagery and mediation. We eat low fat and have cut out red
meat and drink lots of water. A walk with my dog is great. Friends have
our e-mail address and send us jokes. We even went to a sweat lodge
ceremony (I am native). I really appreciate all the support that we have
received from everyone and you are included. I found Greg Anderson's
(U.S.A) little books inspirational. He says he researched cancer survivors
as you did and tried to find the secrets of their survival. One of his
older books mentions a Cancer Survivors Foundation. Have you run across him
yet? He says he had one lung removed and then had a recurrance (sp?) in tho
other and given 30 days to live. He is still around after 14 years
apparently. At this point, I can only comment that is not selfish to wish
to be healed. It is a selfless act to wish to avoid the trauma that this
illness causes to our family, friends and all those connected to us.
At 06:47 AM 3/13/98 -0800, Martin Auslander wrote:
>I subscribe to a number of great magazines that focus on the Wellness
>
>JOurney and I have posted many messages here about our experiences,
>
>Barbs and mine, but I would like to share some information with you that
>
>may articulate somewhat better about the "stategies for Surviving
>
>Cancer" and support our suggestions. I have taken abstracts from an
>
>article written by Joyce Karsko who is a phD and caregiver of her hubby
>
>written in Coping Magazine. It is fairly lengthy but I think it may
>
>provide some additional hope and understanding of our feelings and
>
>definition of cancer. HOpe it benefits you.
>
>
>
>THREE STRATEGIES FOR SURVIVING CANCER
>
>
>
>FIRST- BASE DECISIONS ON FACTS-NOT FEARS. Your cancer has taken time to
>
>develop. After a diagnosis (although you want it treated yesterday), you
>
>need to give yourself time to regroup and learn all you can about
>
>treatments. However, don't be discouraged by the overload of information
>
>or the lack of information on certain cancers. There are many resources
>
>available to you, as well as to your family and support people.
>
> You and your doctor will certainly want to meet and discuss treatment
>
>options such as surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation. It often helps to
>
>make lists of questions before these meetings. Also bring along a
>
>family member or trusted friend who will help you remember the main
>
>points of the discussion later on, although Barb and I found it very
>
>successful when we taped the consultation. We went to many opinions and
>
>each different consultant allowed us to tape consultations and opinons.
>
>Do not fall into the trap of thinking like some men and women who have
>
>put themselves in extreme danger by avoiding, rather than facing the
>
>prospect of undergoing treatment that they falsely imagined would be as
>
>bad as their disease. I believe, as did Barb, that when she accepted
>
>chemotherapy as a friend that was going to cure, that the attitude was
>
>one means that allowed her to help heal her body. She had 41 txs of
>
>chemo and each one was accepted as a friend. Beyond that I recommend
>
>getting second and third opinions from different doctors. Do not be
>
>afraid to ask about their own experience and qualifications, as well as
>
>about other cancer treatment centers that are available.
>
> You need to understand every choice and the pluses and minuses each,
>including follow up treatment.
>
>
>
>SECOND, REFUSE TO SURRENDER-Much of the recent decline in mortality
>
>rates is directly linked to improvement in cancer treatment,
>
>conventional and alternative. Knowledge about cancer and cancer
>
>treatment is much improved in the 90's (thanks large part to mol and my
>
>very brilliant friends)
>
> Find out what treatments are available for you. You can get information
>
>from many sources-your doctor, the American cancer Society, National
>
>Cancer Institute, your local library and the internt. A new genereation
>
>of chemo drugs that shrink tumors and extend lives offers cancer
>
>survivors many reasons for hope. You'll find that many of the new drugs
>
>are more tolerable than others were in the past. Newer treatments can
>
>target cancer, help relieve pain, and reduce other cancer symptoms and
>
>side effects. People receiving treatments get tired of feeling like a
>
>patient-we just want to feel like a person. One of the many benefits we
>
>learned about people surrounding Barb was that treating her as if she
>
>had no disease, as normal, allowed her to progress mentally and also by
>
>us treating her as we would as if she wasn't ill, allowed us, the
>
>caregivers to believe within ourselves that she can get well. It s
>
>positive approach and attitude for the benefit of the survivor and the
>
>caregiver.
>
>
>
>THIRD APPROACH-MAINTAIN A POSITIVE APPROACH TO LIFE-Cancer survivors and
>
>caregivers should adopt positive strategies and plans for living, a
>
>purpose for living. Exercise, relax, meditate, eat well and get
>
>connected with people who care about you-relatives, friends and support
>
>groups that provide positive beliefs. I believe that cancer survivors
>
>and caregivers who develop and keep a positive attitude do better in the
>
>long run on both fronts, one in survival and the other to caregiving.
>
>there have been many studies that those who participate in support
>
>groups (mol is one) not only felt better emotionally and physically, but
>
>lived longer on average than those who did not have such a network.
>
> Pls remember, your case is not exactly like anyones elses. So resist
>
>the temptation to think that because someone else is doing poorly that
>
>you will as well. I know for every person who has done poorly there are
>
>many, many miracle and success stories. Keep up your spirits and
>
>remember that each day we seek a purpose of life and plan for the
>
>future, that more and more treatments are made available. Keep all doors
>
>open, consider all, then choose a plan that encompasses a means to
>
>longevity. It is a lifestyle change, but one that all of us, survivors
>
>and caregivers eventially benefit from.
>
>
>
>Take care my friends
>
>God bless YOu All
>
>mart auslander
>
>
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